The tangled web of cricket

The stink that began in IPL 6 with the spot-fixing charges against three cricketers is now spreading. Board officials, franchise owners, and politicians are all involved in the mess that is cricket.

Rajasthan Royals’s owner part-owner Raj Kundra (L) admitted to betting in the IPL, and, according to Delhi Police, his wife, actress Shilpa Shetty (R) was also involved. As the world of cricket gets murkier, fresh skeletons continue to tumble out each day. AFP

India fast bowler Sreesanth and spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila who played for Rajasthan Royals, were arrested for spot-fixing on 15 May. Sreesanth’s aide Abhishek Shukla and bookie Jiju Janardhan were also arrested for the same. AFP

Gurunath Meiyappan, a top Chennai Super Kings official and son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, was arrested on 24 May, on the charges of cheating and fraud. A minor pawn in the game, he made the wrong move to land pa-in-law in trouble. HT

N Srinivasan: Board president, Chennai Super Kings franchise owner and father-in-law of Gurunath Meiyappan, he has been at the centre of the storm. Deft maneuvering so far has seen him take a strategic time out as the investigations proceed. HT

Jagmohan Dalmiya: Expelled from the BCCI in 2006 for alleged misappropriation of funds in the 1996 World Cup, the wily old fox is back now as the “interim president” of a board under siege. But will he be happy keeping the seat warm for Srinivasan? HT

M.S. Dhoni: The Indian cricket team captain reportedly had a 15% stake in Rhiti Sports Management, that manages him and 3 other Indian players. Dhoni is also the vice-president of India Cements, owned by N Srinivasan. Conflicts of interest all around. HT

I S Bindra: The Punjab Cricket Association president has sought Srinivasan’s resignation. He has also mentioned how a BCCI official arm-twisted the Sri Lankan board to withdraw a corruption report during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2010. HT

Sharad Pawar: The former ICC and BCCI president, a past master of managing contradictions, sought Srinivasan’s resignation. He is now planning to contest the Mumbai Cricket Association elections. HT

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Mohammad Ashraful, on 4 June, admitted to match-fixing in the latest scandal to hit the sport. While match fixing isn’t new to cricket, its tentacles have now spread. AFP